Mother Nature wreaks havoc from time to time through natural disasters. Fortunately Lycetts, who provide insurance for farms, are on hand to advise on how Brits can prepare for, and then recover from two types of disasters which are on completely different ends of the scale but are equally problematic:
Drought
We use a lot of water across the UK. In fact, Water UK states that over 17 billion litres of water is delivered to the nation’s mains water supply per day. This water will cater for more than 60 million consumers, whether they are in their homes or at work, with 150 litres used by each of us on a daily basis on average.
Of course, this water will go into the UK’s mains water supply whether there is rain to replace it or not. Therefore, a drought will officially be declared in the country if we experience 15 days of minimal wet weather — that being under 0.2mm of rain. In the UK, we tend to witness a drought once every five to ten years.
How to prepare
A great tip to prepare for a drought is to make water conservation practices a part of daily life — that way, you will be familiar with using less water in the scenario that water limitation measures are brought in across the country.
With this in mind, look to use spare water on indoor plants or in the garden instead of just pouring it straight down the drain after its initial use. An instant hot water heater should be installed onto your sink too, while dripping faucets should be repaired by replacing the water — for this last point, bear in mind that a single drip per second will result in 2,700 gallons of water being wasted per year!
Across your land, you should look to plant both native and drought-tolerant shrubs, trees, grass and ground covers. This is because they will adapt to the local climate and not need too much water once established; not to mention often surviving a sustained dry period without watering. Mulch should also be used to retain moisture in the soil, with the added benefit being that mulch controls weeds which compete with other plants for water.
How to recover
A lot of your life will quickly adjust back to normal following a drought. Any hosepipe bans which were enforced will be swiftly lifted, for instance, so that you can go back to cleaning the exterior of your home and watering plants as normal. Any restrictions on water use will be eased too, though it’s still best to keep up the water conservation practices advised above as a way of life moving forwards.
However, your lawn may not adjust back to normal so quickly. If it’s being subjected to a drought for a long period, turf grasses may have turned brown and stopped growing completely. While most of the lawn will often recover in time with renewed rainfall, you should look to carry out renovation and repair work in the autumn for particularly problematic areas. Over-seed areas which are sparsely-grassed — this guide by the RHS will help — and refrain from using lawn weed killers on turf that has been affected by drought throughout the autumn.
The Environment Agency also monitors recovery in the UK post-draught. In their Drought response: our framework for England report, the organisation states: “Once a drought recedes, it’s important to continue environmental monitoring to assess recovery of sites and identify any long-term environmental damage. Our area analysis and reporting teams are responsible for establishing and carrying out a drought recovery monitoring programme. Drought monitoring will normally continue until the ecology has recovered to normal conditions.”
Flooding
Flooding has become an increasingly concerning problem for Brits. Between November 2015 and January 2016, for instance, the UK experienced the most ever rainfall for that date period. Not too earlier than that, the wettest winter on record for the UK was recorded during the winter of 2013/14.
How to prepare
You should have plenty of time to prepare for a flood, as updates of local flood warnings are often relayed in advance on local radio and TV news programmes. This page of GOV.UK should also be monitored, as it informs you if your area is either at an immediate risk of flooding, at risk anytime in the next five days or is seen to be a long-term risk area.
Is it likely flooding is going to hit where you’re based? Then you should get an emergency kit prepared (there’s different ones for when you’re at home, on the move or in your car, which Red Cross details here), as well as purchase some sand and sandbags in good time—these are likely to be in high demand once a flood strikes.
If it’s best that you vacate your home until after the threat of flooding has passed, ensure you have switched off the mains power so that there is no risk of being electrocuted from floodwater, as well as shutting and locking every window and door to protect your property and also to give an extra barrier from floodwater getting inside. Take up-to-date photographs around the interior of your home too, as they may prove very useful in the event you need to make an insurance claim.
How to recover
Immediately after your property has been subjected to a flood, be sure to dispose of any food (whether they are being grown or are in your kitchen ready to eat) that has been in floodwater. This is since floodwater is at risk of being contaminated with sewage.
Until your water supplies company gives your tap water the all clear, you should only boil tap water or use bottled water. Your water supplies company should be contacted if your tap water’s colour, smell or taste has changed as well. Gas or electrical items should also not be switched on until they have been checked by a qualified technician, as they may have got wet during a flood.
Your insurance company should also be contacted at the earliest possible opportunity after your property has flooded, with their advice followed. Make sure to take photographs ahead of starting any cleaning up too — which can be coupled with the photos taken when preparing for a flood as a before and after snapshot — and only discard of any items once it’s being cleared by your insurer.